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Diamond feels 'awesome,' ready for next 'pen session

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins left-hander Scott Diamond threw his first full bullpen session on Thursday without any issues and is scheduled to throw another on Sunday.

Diamond, who had a bone chip removed from his left elbow in December, threw 30 pitches on Thursday and is expected to throw about 45 pitches on Sunday.

"Everything felt awesome," Diamond said. "Mechanically, everything is getting back in sync. It wasn't the sharpest, but it was only the first one of the year. But everything went well and I'm feeling strong. Everything is starting to get back."

Diamond, though, said it's still too early to predict whether he'll be ready by Opening Day on April 1 against the Tigers. He said he plans on pitching in his first Grapefruit League game in mid-March and it'll be up the coaching staff and training staff to see if he'll be stretched out enough to be ready for the start of the regular season.

"We'll figure that out when it comes," Diamond said. "It depends on what the coaching staff wants to do."